Preparing for a Day Walk in Tasmania

This is a perfect way to keep fit, active and healthy, to clear your head, and to experience the intimate beauty and wonder of nature.

Some simple preparation can help to make sure you have an enjoyable and safe experience. Even on a short walk, it is important to remember that Tasmania’s weather can be highly changeable, and it is important to be prepared for wild weather or natural hazards. Even in the middle of summer, day walkers can be faced with wind, bitter cold or even snow.

Make sure you wear suitable clothing for the conditions, including thick socks, gaiters (useful for snake protection) and sturdy walking boots. A good check-list for a day-pack that you carry with you on a short or day walk includes:

• Waterproof jacket
• Overpants
• Gloves
• Beanie
• Thick Jumper and additional warm clothing
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• First Aid Kit
• Emergency bivvy or space blanket
• Where necessary, a MedicAlert bracelet/necklace
• Water bottle & water
• Whistle
• Pocket Knife
• Compass
• 1:25,000 topographic TASMAP relevant to your walk in a waterproof cover or map case
• Food
• Mobile Phone – but switch it to flight mode and keep it for offline navigation or an emergency
• Rubbish bag for your waste (must be taken out with you)

For a half-day walk or longer, particularly if you are heading somewhere out of mobile phone range or remote, it is recommended that you carry a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon)/EPIRB and a GPS (or have offline navigation setup on your phone).

Maps and camping equipment in Tasmania can be found here (link to camping equipment article)

Check the Weather

It is always worth checking the weather beforehand - here

Check for Bushfire Alerts or planned burns

Check the Tasmanian Fire Service and Parks & Wildlife Service planned burns pages for any bushfire or planned burns alerts

Get a Parks Pass, Check for Parks Alerts and some walks require booking

If walking within a National Park, you need to ensure you have a Parks Pass, and also check for any Parks & Wildlife Service Alerts beforehand – from time-to-time tracks will be closed for upgrades or other reasons and so it is important to check beforehand.

Happy walking!